Surah Al-Hujrat

(Verse No. 1-8)

Lecture 9&10
Important Points
• Text
• Introduction
• Subject matter and topic
• Translation
• Explanation
• Main Points
• Concluding
• Question and Answers
Introduction
• Name:
• The Surah takes its name from verse 4 in which the word hujurat has
occurred.
• Period of Revelation:
• Traditions show and the subject matter of the Surah also supports the
same that this Surah is a collection of the commandments and
instructions sent down on different occasions, which have been put
together because of the relevancy of the theme. Moreover, the
traditions also show that most of these commandments were sent
down during the final stage of the Holy Prophet's life at Madinah.
Period of Revelation( Continue)
• For instance, about verse 4 the commentators state that it was sent
down concerning the Bani Tamim whose deputation had arrived in
Madinah and started calling out to the Holy Prophet from outside the
apartments (hujurat) of his wives, and according to all biographical
books on the Holy Prophet's life this deputation had visited Madinah
in A. H. 9. Likewise, about verse 6 a large number of the traditions of
Hadith confirm that it was sent down concerning Walid bin Uqbah
whom the Holy Prophet had sent to collect the zakat from the Bani al-
Mustaliq, and it is well known that Walid bin Uqabah had become a
Muslim on the conquest of Makkah.
Subject Matter and Topics

• The subject matter of this Surah is to teach the Muslims the manners
worthy of true believers.
• In the first five verses they have been taught the manners they should
observe with regard to Allah and His Messenger.
• Then, they have been given the instruction that it is not right to believe
in every news blindly and to act according to it, without due thought. If
information is received about a person, a group or a community, it
should be seen carefully whether the means of the information is reliable
or not. If the means is not reliable, it should be tested and examined to
see whether the news is authentic or not before taking any action on it.
Subject Matter and Topics ( Continue)
• Then, it has been told what attitude should the other Muslims adopt
in case two groups of the Muslims fall to mutual fighting.
• Then the Muslims have been urged to safeguard against the evils that
corrupt collective life and spoil mutual relationships. Mocking and
taunting each other, calling others by nicknames, creating suspicions,
prying into other people's affairs and back biting are the evils which
are not only sins in themselves but they also corrupt society. Allah has
mentioned all these evils separately and forbidden them as unlawful.
Subject Matter and Topics ( Continue)
• After this, the national and racial distinctions that cause universal
corruption in the world have been condemned. Nations and tribes
and families pride of Ancestry and their looking down upon others as
inferior to themselves and their pulling down others only for the sake
of establishing their own superiority is an important factor that has
filled the world with injustices and tyranny. Allah in a brief verse has
cut at the root of this evil by stating that all men are descendants of
the same one pair and their division into tribes and communities is
only for the sake of recognition, not for boasting and pride, and there
is no lawful basis of one man's superiority over the other except on
the basis of moral excellence.
Subject Matter and Topics ( Continue)
• In conclusion, the people have been told that the real thing is not the
verbal Profession of the Faith but to believe in Allah and His
messenger truly, to obey them in practical life and to exert sincerely
with one's self and wealth in the cause of Allah. True believers are
only those who adopt this attitude. As for those who profess Islam
merely orally without affirmation by the heart and then adopt an
attitude as if they had done someone a favor by accepting Islam, may
be counted among the Muslims in the world, may even be treated as
Muslims in society, but they cannot be counted as believers in the
sight of Allah.
Logic :
• Differences between Abu Bakar (R.A) and Umer (R.A) on selection of
Ameer of Bani Tameem. It was revealed after Fateh Makkah.
Adab-Nabi and direction forSociety
Verse- 1
Urdu Translation
English Translation:
•
O Ye who believe! Put not yourselves forward before Allah and His
Messenger; but fear Allah: for Allah is He Who hears and knows all
things.
Explanation
• The instances of making decisions in advance before the Noble
Prophet (S) are not attested in the Holy Qur’an so that it includes
prohibitions of making decisions in advance in doctrinal, socio-
political, economic, and other issues in words and deeds.
• God Almighty strictly forbids making decisions in advance before the
leader of the Islamic community, since one who makes decisions in
advance before God Almighty and His Messenger (S), causes disorder
in the management of the Islamic system, leads the society to chaos,
and in fact plays with the legislative system through his personal
inclinations.
Explanation
• Acting upon the blessed Verse in question prevents from the
emergence of many a flaw, since following surmises , inclination
toward innovation, hasty judgment, and so-called liberal thoughts
may at times lead man to making decisions that involuntarily does so
in advance before God Almighty and His Messenger (S).
• In like manner, some people aspiring to worship God Almighty, be
decisive, revolutionary, pious, and leading a simple life make decisions
in advance before God Almighty and His Messenger (S) and became
more catholic than the Pope.
Explanation
• Therefore, acknowledging and acting upon social customs or secular laws
and regulations which are not based upon the Holy Qur’an, traditions of
the Noble Prophet (S) and the Infallible Imams (as), and human intellect
and his natural and innate disposition (fitra) are all instances of making
decisions in advance before God Almighty and His Messenger (S).
• It is worthy of note that a number of Qur’anic exegets concerning the
occasion of the revelation of the blessed Verse in question have said that
it makes a reference to the deeds of some Muslims who performed some
of their devotion rituals prior to their due time; as a consequence of
which the blessed Verse in question was revealed to forbid them from
embarking upon the same.
Verse-2
Urdu Translation
English Translation:
• O ye who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the
Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk, as ye may speak aloud to one
another, lest your deeds become vain and ye perceive not.
Verse 3
Urdu Translation
English Translation:
• Those that lower their voices in the presence of Allah´s Messenger,-
their hearts has Allah tested for piety: for them is Forgiveness and a
great Reward.
Verse 4
Urdu Translation
English Translation:
• Those who shout out to thee from without the inner apartments -
most of them lack understanding.
Verse 5
Urdu Translation
English Translation:
• If only they had patience until thou could come out to them, it would
be best for them: but Allah is Often-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Verse-6
Urdu Translation
English Translation:
• O ye who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news,
ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people unintentionally, and
afterwards become full of repentance for what ye have done.
Verse-7
Urdu Translation
English Translation
• And know that among you is Allah´s Messenger: were he, in many
matters, to follow your (wishes), ye would certainly fall into
misfortune: But Allah has endeared the Faith to you, and has made it
beautiful in your hearts, and He has made hateful to you Unbelief,
wickedness, and rebellion: such indeed are those who walk in
righteousness;-
Verse -8
Urdu Translation
English Translation
• A Grace and Favour from Allah; and Allah is full of Knowledge and
Wisdom.
Main Points